"Those who exploit harassment laws discourage genuine victims," says Ali Zafar’s mother on Meesha’s harassment allegations

The mother of renowned singer Ali Zafar, Dr Kanwal Ameen, has said that she has been an advocate for women's rights long before it became a trend, and she consistently instilled those values in her children.

In a recent interview, she shared that Meesha's tweet was genuinely “shocking for her,” and the entire family went through a challenging time. 

"I had to take my class the next day, I thought about how I was going to take the class and what students would have been thinking of me," she said.

Despite the ordeal, she commended Ali for his resilience and expressed pride in her daughter-in-law, who remained a pillar of strength throughout the situation.

She noted, "It was traumatic not only for him but for everyone related to him," adding that, “He [Ali] dealt with it very bravely.”

Kanwal highlighted that the impact included “emotional distress, financial setbacks, and damage to his reputation.“

She clarified that while she doesn't claim her children are angels, she believed the issue could have been addressed more maturely.

"There were other options to handle it," she remarked, emphasising that she raised her children with a strict emphasis on ethics.

"There are laws on harassment that should be used legitimately,” the mother of the vocalist added.

She said that “those exploiting the laws discourage genuine victims from sharing their unfortunate experiences.“

Kanwal added that while laws against harassment are crucial, people in Pakistan might not yet fully understand how to use them.